Micchāvācāsutta — Andhakavindavagga — the twelfth chapter of the Fives
Setting
None stated; the discourse continues from AN 5.1, whose setting at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove is understood to hold
Speakers
The Buddha alone, addressing the mendicants
Form
two paired five-item lists, addressed to nuns, using this run's fixed opening and closing frame
Length
under 1 minute to read
Northern parallel
not identified in this collection
Difficulty
★★☆☆☆ — addressed specifically to nuns; continues a systematic pattern
Why this discourse
Continuing directly from AN 5.118's pattern, this discourse's varying middle names the eightfold path's third and fourth factors: wrong speech and wrong action, and their positive counterparts.
Reading guide
The pattern, continued
Following AN 5.118's view/intention pair, this discourse moves to the path's next consecutive pair: wrong speech (micchāvācā) and wrong action (micchākammanta).
The same fixed frame
As throughout this run, unexamined praise and criticism open the list, and wasting gifts given in faith closes it — unchanged since AN 5.116.
Working systematically through the path
Three consecutive discourses — AN 5.118, 5.119, and 5.120 — will together name three consecutive pairs of the eightfold path's eight factors: view/intention, speech/action, and effort/mindfulness.
The mirrored positive
Right speech (sammāvācā) and right action (sammākammanta), alongside examined judgment and gifts not wasted.
What comes next
AN 5.120 closes both this run and the chapter with the path's sixth and seventh factors: right effort and right mindfulness.
Key terms
micchāvācā / sammāvācā — wrong speech / right speech — the path's third factor.
micchākammanta / sammākammanta — wrong action / right action — the fourth factor.
magga — the eightfold path, worked through systematically across AN 5.118–120.
ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā — the fixed opening qualifier, unchanged since AN 5.116.
saddhādeyyaṁ vinipāteti — the fixed closing item, unchanged since AN 5.116.
The text
The discourse in full: unexamined judgment, wrong speech and action, wasted gifts, then their correction. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
Placed in hell
§1“Mendicants, a nun with five qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. What five? Without examining or scrutinizing, she praises those deserving of criticism, and criticizes those deserving of praise. She has wrong speech and wrong action, and wastes gifts given in faith. A nun with these five qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.
Placed in heaven
§2A nun with five qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there. What five? After examining and scrutinizing, she criticizes those deserving of criticism, and praises those deserving of praise. She has right speech and right action, and doesn’t waste gifts given in faith. A nun with these five qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”
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Self-check quiz
Ten questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 10
What two items fill this discourse's varying middle?
Correct: A. The eightfold path's third and fourth factors.
Question 2 of 10
What discourse immediately precedes this one in the path-factor sequence?
Correct: B. Having Wrong View, naming factors one and two.
Question 3 of 10
What does 'micchāvācā' mean?
Correct: A. The negative form of the path's third factor.
Question 4 of 10
What does 'micchākammanta' mean?
Correct: A. The negative form of the path's fourth factor.
Question 5 of 10
What two elements remain fixed, shared across this whole run?
Correct: A. Established at AN 5.116, continuing here.
Question 6 of 10
How many consecutive discourses together work through three pairs of the eightfold path?
Correct: B. View/intention, speech/action, effort/mindfulness.
Question 7 of 10
What are the positive counterparts in the heaven-bound version?
Correct: A. Sammāvācā and sammākammanta.
Question 8 of 10
What does AN 5.120 close this pattern and the chapter with?
Correct: A. The path's sixth and seventh factors.
Question 9 of 10
Who remains the addressee throughout this run?
Correct: B. Continuing since AN 5.115.
Question 10 of 10
What verdict formula closes both versions of this discourse?
Correct: A. The recurring stock phrase across this entire run.
